NASHVILLE, Tenn. --Â Belmont basebasll delivered one of its most complete performances of the season Saturday night, using a relentless middle-inning surge and a dominant outing on the mound to defeat Evansville, 11-7, at E.S. Rose Park.
After falling behind early, the Bruins responded with consistent offensive pressure and a game-changing sixth inning that ultimately put the contest out of reach. Evansville struck first in the second inning, capitalizing on a Belmont error to plate two unearned runs and take a 2-0 lead. Belmont answered in the third when Michael Lareau came around to score on an RBI double from Brady Holbrook, cutting the deficit in half and beginning to shift momentum.
That momentum fully turned in the fourth inning. With two runners on, Lareau stepped to the plate and launched a three-run home run to give Belmont a 4-2 advantage. The Bruins continued to build from there, adding a solo home run from Mike Sprockett in the fifth to extend the lead to 5-2.
The defining moment came in the bottom of the sixth inning. Holding a three-run lead, Belmont broke the game open with a four-run frame. Charlie Davis and Landon Godsey opened the inning with back-to-back singles, setting the stage for Holbrook, who delivered a two-RBI hit that turned into extra bases after a misplay in right field, allowing both runners to score. Sprockett followed with an RBI fielder's choice, and Nate Webb added an RBI single later in the inning, capping a five-hit rally that pushed the lead to 9-2 and firmly swung control to the Bruins.
Belmont continued to apply pressure late in the game. In the eighth inning, Holbrook added to his standout performance with a solo home run, and Jake Maddox followed with an RBI double to extend the lead to 11-4. By that point, the Bruins had scored in five different innings while totaling 14 hits and three home runs on the night.
On the mound, Ridge Harvey delivered a dominant performance, going 7.0 innings while allowing just five hits and two unearned runs. After the second inning, Harvey settled in and took control, striking out 13 batters and preventing Evansville from generating sustained offense. He consistently won key at-bats and kept the Purple Aces off balance throughout his outing.
At the plate, Belmont's lineup produced up and down the order. Holbrook led the way with a 3-for-4 performance, including a home run and four RBIs. Maddox added three hits and scored twice, while Lareau drove in three runs with his pivotal fourth-inning homer. Sprockett contributed a home run and two RBIs, and Webb added two hits and an RBI to round out the offensive effort.
Evansville attempted to rally late, scoring two runs in the eighth before adding a three-run home run in the ninth to cut into the deficit. However, the early damage created by Belmont's middle innings proved too much to overcome, as the Bruins maintained control down the stretch.
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